Industry
Sony, Toshiba get state funding for outbound investment
Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. will be the first companies to receive capital from a $100 billion government fund set up last year to finance overseas acquisitions and minimize the impact of a rising yen. The strength of Japan’s currency has hurt export...
Oak Investment backs Chinese online shopping engine
B5M, a Chinese shopping online platform, has raised $7.1 milion through a Series A funding round led by Oak Investment Partners and e-commerce platform operator Giosis Holdings.
CITIC Capital rolls out new VC fund
CITIC Capital, partly-owned by Chinese Investment Corp. (CIC) and CITIC Group, has reached a first close of $60 million for its new venture capital fund. The vehicle represents the private equity firm's first foray into VC.
IncuCapital backs EFactor’s expansion in India
IncuCapital has reached an agreement to launch EFactor, a major global entrepreneurial community platform, in India, in a bid to generate business network opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
SEC files lawsuit against executives of Chinese coal company
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against two Chinese executives from Puda Coal, accusing them of shifting its main asset to a third-party company and then selling a stake to CITIC Trust. Ming Zhao and Liping Zhu, chairman...
Asia’s aspirational brands: It’s how you pick ‘em
Should we be surprised that L Capital, the private equity arm of luxury goods giant LVMH, thinks its Asia operations have the capacity to handle a $1 billion fund? Given the scale of consumer sector opportunities in the region, not really. But a more...
Korea’s LP problem
Both the GP and LP bases in South Korea are relatively narrow. Once fund managers have more to show for themselves in terms of track records, it will be easier to distinguish wheat from chaff
Abraaj acquires emerging markets SME specialist Aureos
When Omar Lodhi took charge of Abraaj Capital’s Asia business, the idea was to pursue organic growth. The private equity firm opened an office in Singapore early last year and then one in India, where it already had a joint venture with Sabre Capital...
High India pharma valuations price PE firms out of the market
With strategic investors drawn to India’s rapidly growing pharma sector, private equity players must either go niche or get out
Q&A: Intel Capital's Keith Larson
Keith Larson, vice president and managing director for Intel Capital’s manufacturing sector investments, talks to AVCJ about how and where Asia is gaining an edge in the global technology space
Operating partners: The social network
Operating partners now form the backbone of most private equity firms, in a variety of different guises. Samena Capital’s take on this concept recognizes the importance of relationships in Asia
Asia, Middle East LPs put up 30% of BC Partners’ buyout fund
Asian and Middle East investors contributed 30% of the capital for BC Partners’ latest European fund, which has closed at EUR6.5 billion ($8.6 billion) after 18 months in the market. LPs from these regions only accounted for 10% of the private equity...
MMI relies on US investors for $300m high-yield bond
KKR-owned MMI International successfully issued its $300 million high-yield bond, principally attracting interest from US investors due to their familiarity with the sector and the company’s customer base. The five-year non-call bond was priced at a...
Ojas Venture Partners backs Indian tech start-up BrizzTV
Indian technology start-up BrizzTV Media Lab has received Series A funding from Ojas Venture Partners, a VC firm that backs early stage technology-based businesses.
Abraaj Capital buys Aureos to boost emerging markets exposure
Abraaj Capital has acquired Aureos Capital, creating an entity with approximately $7.5 billion in assets under management and 150 investment professionals across 30 countries. The purchase enables Dubai-headquartered Abraaj, which focuses on the Middle...
Banyan Tree invests $15m in Dilip Buildcon
Banyan Tree Growth Capital, a $100 million private equity fund that provides capital to middle-market Indian firms, has invested INR750 million ($15 million) in Bhopal-based infrastructure company Dilip Buildcon.
China rolls out $8b fund to back outbound investments
China has launched a RMB50 billion ($8 billion) fund in Shanghai to aid overseas acquisitions by Chinese companies. The fund, which is the largest international renminbi-denominated vehicle ever created, has already raised RMB12 billion.
First Eastern backs Sustainable Development Capital
First Eastern Investment Group, a Hong Kong-based investor with interests in private equity and venture capital, has acquired a minority stake in Sustainable Development Capital (SDCL). The two firms have also set up an Asia-focused joint venture.
Washington State commits $400m to KKR’s Asian fund
Washington State Investment Board has committed $400 million to KKR’s second Asia fund, which is seeking to raise up to $6 billion. The investment was disclosed alongside those made to Oaktree Capital Management’s newest distressed debt fund and Cinven...
CPPIB hires Goldman’s Mark Machin as Asia president
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has appointed former Goldman Sachs executive Mark Machin as Asia president. He will be based in Hong Kong and take responsibility for the pension fund’s investment strategy and programs throughout Asia Pacific.
Jacob Ballas commits $20m to Indian engineering company
Jacob Ballas Capital India has aggreed to pay INR1 billion ($20.29 million) for a minority stake in DBM Geotechnics and Constructions, an Indian engineering infrastructure firm.
Vistra launches fund administration services in Asia
Vistra Fund Services has launched an Asian unit to complement existing operations run out of Jersey and Luxembourg. Based in Hong Kong, the new unit will provide fund administration and associated services to fund managers throughout Asia.
Chinese outbound investment to top $800b by 2016
Chinese outbound investment will expand by $800 billion over the five years to 2016, according to A Capital, a private equity firm focused on cross-border transactions involving Chinese companies. The cumulative value of outbound deals has risen tenfold...
CalPERS criticizes PE industry on tax breaks
Joe Dear, CIO of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), waded into debate on how private equity is taxed in the US, saying that buyout firm executives “risk becoming the robber barons of the 21st century” if they don’t back...